GB2065604A

GB2065604A - Pressure-resistant container

Info

Publication number: GB2065604A
Application number: GB8039081A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Westerwaelder Eisenwerk Gerhard GmbH
Current assignee: Westerwaelder Eisenwerk Gerhard GmbH
Priority date: 1979-12-21
Filing date: 1980-12-05
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: DE2951554C2; US4356925A; ZA807748B; GB2065604B; JPS56105196A; DE2951554A1; NZ195871A; JPS5911070B2

Description

1 GB 2 065 604A 1

SPECIFICATION

A pressure-resistant container for liquids, gases or loose material composed of two or 5 more shells The invention relates to a pressure-resistant container for liquids, gases or loose material composed of two or more shells and having -10 an outer wall which is formed by two or more part-cylindrical shells having mutually parallel axes and intersecting each other, and end walls each formed by two halves of a dished bottom and a central shell closing the opening between the straight section edges of the bottom halves.

Formation of the end wall of containers formed of two or more lying cylindrical shells has been for a long time the subject of constant further development.

For instance the end wall of a container composed of two part-cylindrical shells intersecting each other was made of two halves of a dished bottom and the space between the straight section edges of the bottom halves was bridged by a reinforced connection piece. As one such connecting piece was chosen either a U- section, the arms of which were along the curvature of the adjacent section edges of the brttom halves welded to said edges. Also a cylindrically curved connection piece has been used the curvature of which was adjusted to a part of the dishing of the bottom halves at the section edges. These connection pieces. have at their top and bottom rim box pieces which bridge the transition from the main bottom dishing via the border region to the cylindrical border of the adjacent bottom halves.

Due to the numerous welds which are needed for this purpose in the end regions, these known formations of the end walls require too much work, and due to the enormous heat to which they are exposed due to the welding, prestressing takes place which makes them susceptible to cracking.

The aim of the invention is to devise a simpler pressure-resistant container end wall, the bottom region of which may be used as a channel for emptying, and the top region of which may be used as a tunnel for air equalization of the container.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the central shell is formed by partcylindrical shells curved about horizontal transverse axes, the radii of curvature of the part-cylinders correspond to the radii of curvature of the adjacent bottom calottes and borders, and the plane adjacent thereto follows the cylindrical borders of the bottom halves and extends into an end surface joined vertically at its edge, the height of which is given at least by the distance between the tops or bottoms of the cylindrical shells of the container and the longitudinal troughs formed by their intersection.

Due to the formation of the central shells according to the invention their large central radius of curvature corresponds to the radius of dishing of the adjacent bottom halves. Particularly the central shell follows also their curvature in the corner regions, the radius of dishing of the bottom calottes merging in the upper and bottom smaller corner radii of the borders and in continuation thereof in the cylindrical borders of the bottom halves, and end there at the top and bottom in an end surface joined at the edge at right angles.

in this formation the number of welds needed for the connection of the central shell to the container parts and the bottom halves and also their length are reduced to a minimum. Particularly in the region of the end walls are connected to each other only parts which are curved in the same way and which practically avoid stresses between the parts being connected, as is the case in known solutions. The end region of the container shells, which is not covered by the bottom halves, (i.e. the receding portions between the cylindrical shells of the tank body which intersect each other) is in butt connection with the formed-on vertical end surfaces of the central shell and may there be connected to them by simple fillet welds.

As, according to a further feature of the invention, the height of the vertical end surfaces corresponds at least to the distance between the tops or bottom of the container shells and the trough formed by their intersection, they form, together with -the central shell. transverse connections in the form of troughs or tunnels from top to top or bottom to bottom so that they may serve as a connec- tion tunnel for the gases present above the surface of the liquid in the container and to make evacuation easier, and as a communication channel between the bottoms of the container for complete emptying of the container.

These functions can be obtained in known container forms, even containers composed of several shells, only by additional work intensive welding-in of ducts or troughs, which must be welded into specially made cutouts in the container shells.

Welding in of such tunnel or duct elements requires however not only additional use of material and cutting out of the container wall and additional work for the making of the ducts and their welding-in, but also supply of welding heat which considerably reduces the strength and fatigue safety of the container, and thereby causes contraction strain which may lead to stress corrosion and fatigue.

It is customary to situate in the troughs formed by the intersection of the horizontal cylindrical shells of the container longitudinal beams for taking up inner pressure, which may end at their ends in a transverse beam of the end frame. These longitudinal beams are 2 GB2065604A 2 formed as T-section carriers or channel or angle sections, depending on the number of container shells intersecting each other. - According to a further development of the invention the longitudinal beams may end at 70 the end surfaces joined at the edge of the central shells and be there connected by an inner tie member, or they may for their stabili zation extend beyond the end wall of the container and be connected to a transverse beam of the end frame and/or to a tie ele ment in the end region. It is advantageous when the longitudinal beams are notched in the region of the end surface joined at the edge of the cylindrical border and extend beyond the border region and follow the out line of the central shell at least until they re assume the original height of the longitudinal beam.

According to a further preferred embodi- ment of the invention a suitably shaped pres sure sheet is welded in the notched region of the longitudinal beams between the central shell and the longitudinal beam to ensure a better distribution of the surface pressure on to the central -shell. The longitudinal beams are thereby at the same time in the notched region reinforced.

Details of the invention are apparent from the following description, by way of example, 95 of embodiments with reference to the draw ings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partly cut off perspective illustration of the formation of the end wall of a container composed of two shelis, Figure 2 is a vertical section through -ihe longitudinal axis of the part of the container shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a detail of a cross-section through the container along line 111-111 in Fig. 105 2, Figure 4 is a partly cut off perspective illustration of the formation of the end wall of a container composed of three shells and having a U-shaped central longitudinal beam, 110 and Figure 5 is a partia jiew of a container end wall.

The container shown in Fig. 1 is composed of two part-cylindrical shells 2, 3 intersecting each other and having mutually parallel longi tudinal axes and is closed at each of the ends by two halves 4, 5 of a dished bottom and a central shell element 6 arranged in the central region between the two bottom halves 4, 5.

As is apparent from Fig. 2 the central shell 6 is curved according to the outline of the bottom. Its central radius of curvature corre sponds therefore to the large radius 7 of the calotte curvature of the bottom halves 4, 5.

Also above and below this large radius 7 of curvature joins the central shell element 6 the corner radii of the bottom halves 4, 5, which are more strongly curved in the border region 8, and follows then in the adjacent straight portions the cylindrical border of the bottom halves 4, 5 approximately up to the plane of the round weld 9 between the bottom halves 4, 5 and the cylindrical shells 2, 3.

The central shell element 6 is extended at the top and bottom in the plane of the round weld 9 by a further piece 10, which extends at right angles to the container axis and which is erected from the top downwardly and from the bottom upwardly and ends at the top below and at the bottom above the troughs 11 formed between the cylindrical shells 2, 3 intersecting each other, and will therefore in the following be referred to as end surface 10. These end surfaces 10 close in the manner of gussets the receding portions between the cylindrical shells 2, 3 of the container intersecting each other and the central shell.

By forming of these vertical end surfaces 10 on to the central shell elements is formed, without additional welding, a tunnel 12, connecting the tops of the two part-cylinders 2, 3 of part- circular cross-section by means of which may be equalized the gases formed above the surface of the liquid.

- Substantially the same applies to the lower region where channel 13, open to the inside of the container, is formed between the two cylindrical bottoms, to enable complete emptying of the container without the use of additional emptying ducts.

The vertical end surfaces 10 of the central shell element 6, which extend to the inside of the container, serve in addition as non-posi- tive closure surfaces for the bottom region of the central longitudinal beams 14 positioned in the longitudinal troughs 11 at the top and bottom to take up tensile forces. These central longitudinal beams 14 are made in the twoshell container illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, as Tsections. The central longitudinal beams 14 may end for instance at the end surfaces 10 of the central shells 6 and be there connected by means of an inner tie element. This is not illustrated.

In order to stabilize the border region 8 which has the tendency to buckle, central longitudinal beams 14 are provided according to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, which extend beyond the length of the partcylindrical shells 2, 3 and the strongly curved border region up to an end frame 15 which is situated before the end of the container 1. The web 16 of the central longitudinal beam 14 is for this purpose notched to correspond to the curvature of the central shell element 6 in the border region 8 and the extension of the end surfaces 10 adjacent thereto, and follows from there their outer outline at the top downwardly and at the bottom upwardly until it re-assumes its original height. This web 16 then extends with unchanged crosssection up to the upper or, respectively lower, transverse support beam of the end frame 15.

Between the notched edge of the web 16 in 3 GB2065604A 3 1 the central longitudinal beam 14 and the central shell element 6 is welded a pressure sheet 17 shaped according to the outline of the central shell. By means of this pressure sheet 17 is on the one hand better distributed the surface pressure acting on the central shell element 6, and on the other hand a central reinforcement is provided for the extended central longitudinal beam 14 in the -10 notched region in the manner of a double Tsection.

In order to prevent wedging of the extended central longitudinal beams 14 a tie section 19 is provided in the plane of the end frame 15 outside the central shell element 6 which connects the upper and lower transverse carrier beams of the end frame 15 and on which end the central longitudinal beams 14.

Bulging of the central shell element 6 in the region of its strongly curved corner radii is additionally limited by a gusset 18 which is arranged below and inwardly of the vertical web 16 of the central longitudinal beams 14. The lower end of the gusset 18 is recessed to have a curved outline so as to avoid fatigue cracks. The gussets 18 are connected to the tie profiles 19.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a container composed of three shells. Parts which correspond to Figs. 1 to 3 have the same references. It must, however, be pointed out that the central shell element 6 situated between the two bottom halves 4, 5 limits at the end also the central part-cylinder 2a, and the end surface 10 formed thereon closes the receding portions formed by the two troughs 11 a and 11 b (Fig. 5).

Instead of a central longitudinal beam 14 in the form of a T-section or angle section, either two mutually parallel central longitudinal beams 14a, b in the form of a T-section or angle section are provided or a longitudinal beam in the form of a channel section 1 4c, gion.

the arms 1 6a, b of which extend in the parallel troughs 11 a and 11 b are used accord- 110 ing to Fig. 4.

Means used according to Figs. 1 to 3 for reinforcement of the central shell element 6 may be analogically applied to the two parallel central longitudinal beams 14a, b or the cen- tral longitudinal beam in the form of a channel section 14c.

Claims

1. A pressure-resistant container for liq uids, gases or loose materiaL comprising an elongate open-ended hollow body composed of two or more part-cylindrical shells having mutually parallel, substantially horizontal axes and longitudinal edges along which they are joined to each other, longitudinal troughs being defined between portions of adjacent partcylindicai shells diverging from their joined longitudinal edges to their tops and bottoms, respectively, the body being closed at each end by an end wall joined thereto and formed by two halves of a round dished end shell which are interconnected by a central shell, each half having a diametral edge and a peripheral edge and each central shell having two opposed curved edges and two opposed straight edges, the shape of the curved edges of each central shell corresponding to the shape of the diametral edges of the halves interconnected thereby, the straight edges of each central shell forming continuation of the peripheral edges of the adjacent halves, an end surface extending from each said straight edge inwardly of the body at the end of each said trough, the height of each end surface corresponding to at least the height of the associated trough.

2. A container according to Claim 1 including longitudinal beams which extend in the longitudinal trough, end at the end surfaces and are there connected to an inner tie element.

3. A container according to Claim 1 including longitudinal beams which extend in the longitudinal troughs and have vertical webs provided with a notch at each adjacent end surface and extend beyond it, wherein the outline of the notch follows the outline of the central shell at least until the webs re-assume their original height.

4. A container according to Claim 3 wherein the longitudinal beams, in order to stabilize the associated central shell, extend beyond the associated end surfaces and are connected to a tie element at the end wall.

5. A container according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein in the notched region between at least one central shell and the associated longitudinal beam is welded a pressure sheet for better distribution of surface pressure on to the central shell and for the reinforcement of the longitudinal beam in the notched re-

6. A container according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the longitudinal beams are at their ends connected to an upper and/or lower transverse beam of an end frame of the container.

7. A container according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein a T-section or an angle section is used as the longitudinal beam.

8. A container according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the longitudinal beam is a T-section and the pressure sheet completes it to a substantially double T-section.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims'composed of three or more part-cylindrical shells, including longitudinal beams in the form of channel sections, the two flanges of each said channel extending each into a respective one of said longitudinal troughs.

10. A container according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein at least one central shell of the container is connected to a 4 GB 2 065 604A 4 tie element of an end frame via pressure and gusset sheets.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper part of at least one central shell serves in the region of the associated end surface as an equalizing tunnel for the gases present above the surface of liquid.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom part of at least one central shell serves in the region of the associated end surface joined at the edge as a communication channel between the bottoms of the container for complete emptying of the container.

13. A pressure-resistant container for liquids, gases or loose material, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd -1981 Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

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